U.S. patent number 4,976,642 [Application Number 07/407,646] was granted by the patent office on 1990-12-11 for life ring.
Invention is credited to Lawrence A. Wilkie.
United States Patent |
4,976,642 |
Wilkie |
December 11, 1990 |
Life ring
Abstract
A life ring is disclosed which is adapted to fit generally about
the waist of a person and to secure their arms so as to prevent
them from accidentally slipping out of the ring as they are pulled
from the water. The life ring comprises a generally rigid inner
ring with a flexible outer ring located externally around the same.
The outer ring is adaptably secured to the inner ring and the two
rings are disposed a spaced distance apart. The iner ring has an
approximately circular outer circumference and an approximately
circular central aperture extending therethrough. The outer ring
includes a mechanism for varying the circumference of the same. The
outer ring is also adapted to attach to a towing or hoisting rope.
The person enters the aperture within the inner ring and positions
their arms in the space between the inner and outer rings. As
tension is applied to the towing rope, the circumference of the
outer ring is varied, and the outer and inner rings engage about
the arms of the person thereby securing the person within the life
ring.
Inventors: |
Wilkie; Lawrence A. (Lake Echo,
Halifax County, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23612941 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/407,646 |
Filed: |
September 15, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/131;
441/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C
9/082 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63C
9/08 (20060101); B63C 9/00 (20060101); B63C
009/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;441/81,83,84,106,108,113,131 ;182/3,142 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
149417 |
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Jun 1913 |
|
CA |
|
169705 |
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May 1916 |
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CA |
|
1194731 |
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Oct 1985 |
|
CA |
|
84688 |
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Dec 1954 |
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NO |
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8400733 |
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Mar 1984 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Basinger; Sherman
Assistant Examiner: Swinehart; Edwin L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Venable, Baetjer, Howard &
Civiletti
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A life ring adapted to fit generally about the waist and also to
secure the arms of the victim comprising:
a generally rigid inner ring formed of a floatation material,
having a continuous approximately circular outer circumference and
having a circular central aperture extending therethrough;
a flexible outer ring located externally of the inner ring said
flexible outer ring including means for varying the circumference
of outer ring to facilitate engagement of the outer and inner rings
about the arms of the victim; and
means for adaptably securing the outer ring to said inner ring.
2. The life ring of claim 1, wherein the means for securing the
outer ring to the inner ring comprising a rigid pin member and
first and second resilient flexible spring members, said first and
second resilient flexible spring members each being secured to both
the inner ring and outer ring at positions generally equidistant
from said rigid pin member and from each other.
3. The life ring of claim 2, wherein said means for varying the
circumference of the outer ring includes a telescoping sleeve
member which is located within the outer ring generally between
said spring members and diametrically opposite said rigid pin
member.
4. The life ring of claim 3 which includes rope means encircling
the outer periphery of said circular flexible outer ring and being
adapted for attachment to a towing or hoisting rope.
5. The life ring of claim 4 wherein said flexible outer ring has
channel means running substantially about the external peripheral
edge of said flexible outer ring, said channel means for receiving
said rope means therein.
6. The life ring of claim 4 wherein said rigid pin member is
adapted to slidably secure said rope means so as to allow movement
of said rope means circumferentially about the outer peripheral
edge of said flexible outer ring while generally restricting
movement in a vertical direction.
7. The life ring of claim 1 wherein said generally rigid inner ring
and flexible outer ring ar circular.
8. The life ring of claim 1 wherein said generally rigid inner ring
and flexible outer ring have cross sections which are ovoid.
9. The life ring of claim 1 wherein said flexible outer ring is
comprised of elastomeric material.
10. The life ring of claim 1 wherein said flexible outer ring is
filled with foam.
11. The life ring of claim 2 wherein said rigid pin member provides
spacing means between said generally rigid inner ring and said
flexible outer ring.
12. The life ring of claim 4 wherein, in use, said rigid pin member
provides fixed spacing means between said generally rigid inner
ring and said flexible outer ring, and said first and second spring
members being resiliently flexible to provide means for varying the
distance between said outer and inner ring when functioning in
association with the telescoping sleeve member.
13. The life ring of claim wherein said flotation material consists
of a low density, lightweight, buoyant plastic foam material.
14. The life ring of claim 9 wherein said flexible outer ring is
filled with foam.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to life rings and more
specifically to life rings comprising two concentric rings which
are adapted to hold a person more securely during their removal
from the water.
SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART
Life rings are commonly used to assist in preventing potential
drowning victims from drowning and to help pull them from the
water. In cold water especially, hypothermia can quickly render the
potential victim totally helpless so that they are so weak that
they cannot grip onto a life ring or maintain their hold as it is
pulled from the water. The victim may also become unconscious
and/or slip out of the life ring long before rescuers are able to
pull them from the water.
Various solutions to this problem have been proposed by the prior
art.
Canadian patent No. 1,194,731 to Mauck relates to a life preserver
having a specialized adapter cover which covers and is secured to a
series of straps 28 which are attached to the cover and hold rope
means 34 substantially against the inner periphery of the annular
ring. (See FIG. 1). The yieldable nature of the straps 28 permits
the rope means 34 to be pulled radially inwardly during use of the
device. (See FIG. 3). In the Mauck device, the outer ring is rigid
and the rope is constricted about the torso of the wearer when
tension is applied to the tow line, thereby assisting in retaining
the wearer in the life preserver.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,538 to Smith discloses a strapless life
preserver which is reversible and is worn so as to allow for free
use of the arms of the wearer. The preserver is preferably formed
from a singular helical tubular structure of air-tight,
semi-resilient material arranged in a manner to provide two annular
tubular wings of generally similar size and shape. The ends of the
tubular structure are fastened together at a central point so that
the two wings are biased together thus making the preserver
self-clamping against the torso of the wearer.
U.S Pat. No. 2,001,384 to Garvey discloses a flexible life belt
wherein three inflatable elongated tubes 16, 26 and 27 are
provided, each of somewhat greater length so as to enable the rings
to be concentrically arranged when inflated as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The belt has shoulder straps to secure the wearer to the life
belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a life ring which is adapted to fit
generally about the waist and to secure the arms of the person so
that they are held more securely within the life ring. The life
ring comprises a generally rigid inner ring, formed of a floatation
material, with a flexible outer ring located externally of the
same. The inner ring has a continuous, approximately circular outer
circumference and has an approximately circular central aperture
extending therethrough. The outer ring is adaptably secured to the
inner ring by a suitable means. The victim enters the aperture in
the inner ring and then places his/her arms in the space between
the inner and outer rings The outer ring includes a means for
varying the circumference of the outer ring to facilitate
engagement of the outer and inner rings about the arms of the
victim so that the victim is held more securely within the life
ring.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for
securing the outer ring to the inner ring comprises a rigid pin
member and resilient and flexible first and second spring members.
Each of the first and second spring members are secured to both the
inner ring and the outer ring at positions generally equidistant
from the rigid pin member and from each other
The life ring of the preferred embodiment ma also include a
telescoping sleeve member which is located within the outer ring
generally between the first and second spring members and
diametrically opposite the rigid pin member. The resiliently
flexible spring members function in association with the
telescoping sleeve member to provide a means for varying the
distance between the outer and inner rings.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention may also include
a channel means running substantially about the external peripheral
edge of the outer ring, and a rope means received within said
channel. The rope means is adapted for attachment to a towing or
hoisting rope and when tension is applied to the towing or hoisting
rope, the rope means in the channel in the outer ring acts causes
the circumference of the outer ring to vary, thereby facilitating
the engagement of the outer and inner rings about the arms of the
victim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more
fully described with the aid of the following drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the life ring of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing in greater detail the connection
between the inner and outer rings by way of the pin member;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section through line C--C' of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section through line D--D' of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing in greater detail the telescoping
sleeve member and the rope connections for the life ring;
FIG. 6 is a cross-section through line E--E' of FIG. 1;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a life ring adapted to fit
generally about the waist and also to secure the arms of the
victim. The life ring comprises a generally rigid inner ring 10,
having a continuous, approximately circular outer circumference and
having an approximately circular central aperture 11 extending
therethrough. The victim's body (not shown) is received in the
aperture 11. A flexible outer ring 12 is located externally of the
inner ring 10 and is adaptably secured thereto. The outer ring 12
includes a means for varying the circumference of the outer ring 12
to facilitate engagement of the outer and inner rings about the
arms of the victim which are positioned in the space 13 between the
outer and inner rings. When the life ring is lifted out of the
water, the victim's arms are secured between the outer and inner
rings and this prevents the victim from slipping out of the
aperture 11 and back into the water.
The inner ring 10 is formed of a floatation material such as a low
density, lightweight, buoyant plastic foam material. Both the inner
and outer rings may be manufacturerd from a self-skinning rigid
foam or semi-rigid foam, or the outer skin of the rings may be
blow-moulded or rotationally moulded from an elastomeric plastic
such a polyolefin or soft polyvinylchloride and filled with a
flexible foam. The inner ring 10, however, is manufactured so that
it is relatively rigid, while the outer ring 12 is manufactured to
be relatively flexible. Both rings may be manufactured without the
foam and be inflatable-type rings which are inflated with either a
gas, or a suitable gas and foam. In the latter instance, the ring
should incorporate a means to allow the surplus gas to exit ahead
of the foam. Both the inner and outer rings may be either circular
or ovoid in shape.
As is more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the inner ring 10 is formed
with a projection 14 which extends from its outer circumference.
When the outer ring 12 is disposed externally of the inner ring 10,
the projection 14 extends towards the outer ring. A rigid pin
member 15 secures the outer ring to the projection 14 of the inner
ring 10. A plate nut 16 is embedded in the foam core of the inner
ring and the pin member 15 is secured to this plate nut 16. Two
washers 17 are utilized, one between the eye 18 of the pin member
15 and the outer ring 12, and one between the outer ring 12 and the
projection 14. A rope 19 is slidably secured to the eye 18 and this
assists in keeping the pin member 15 securely in the plate nut 16.
The rigid pin member 15 maintains the inner and outer rings a
certain distance apart from each other.
The inner and outer rings are also connected together by way of two
resilient and flexible first and second spring members 20,21. The
first and second spring members 20,21 are essentially identical in
construction. The spring members are secured to both the inner ring
and outer ring at positions generally equidistant from the pin
member 15 and from each other. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the
structure of either the first or second spring member is shown.
Bellows 22, which are moulded from a flexible elastomeric plastic
such as polyvinylchloride, house a zig-zag spring 23. During
assembly, a push pin 24 engages overlapping ends (not shown) of the
bellows collar 25, and is pushed through the foam core of the inner
ring 10. The barb 26 at the end of the push pin 24 engages one end
of the spring 23, thereby preventing extraction of the push pin 24.
Simlarly, a sleeve pin 27 is pushed through the foam core of the
outer ring 12 and engages the other end of the spring 23. The
sleeve pin 27 is provided with two or three sleeves 28 for the rope
19.
The outer ring 12 is provided with a telescoping sleeve member 29
(FIG. 1 and FIG. 5) which is located within the outer ring,
generally between the first and second spring members 20,21, and
diametrically opposite the pin member 15. The first and second
spring members 20,21 are resiliently flexible to provide a means
for varying the distance between the outer and inner ring when
functioning in association with the telescoping sleeve member
29.
As can be seen from FIG. 6, the external peripheral edge of the
outer ring 12 is provided with a channel 30. The rope 19 is
received within this channel 30, encircles the outer ring 12 and is
adapted for attachment to a towing or hoisting rope 31. The rope 19
is slidably secured through the eye 18 of the pin member 15, which
allows the rope 19 to move circumferentially about the outer
peripheral edge of the outer ring. The rigid pin member generally
restricts any movement of the rope in a vertical direction.
A grab rope 32 may also be secured to the eye 18 of the pin member
15, passed through a sleeve 28 in each sleeve pin 27 and then tied
off with a knot or the like. The grab rope 32 may be provided to
assist a victim in catching hold of the life ring.
The inner ring 10 or outer ring 12 may also be provided with one or
more compartments (not shown) for housing emergency equipment such
as reflective or lighting devices. The inner ring may also be
provided with a homing device.
The life ring of the present invention is used in the following
manner. The victim enters the aperture 11 in the inner ring 10 and
positions their arms in the space 13 between the inner ring 10 and
the outer ring 12. Any tension applied to the rope 19 at this point
will cause the circumference of the outer ring 12 to be varied and
the victim's arms will be engaged between the inner and outer
rings. As is shown in FIG. 1, as the tow rope 31 is pulled, it
moves the rope 19 from position A to position B. This causes the
telescoping sleeve member 29 to be reduced in length, which in turn
causes the outer ring 12 to be moved from the position shown in
solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines on the
same figure. This variation in the circumference of the outer ring
12 causes the space 13 to be narrowed, and the victim's arms are
engaged between the inner and outer rings.
When it is desired to free the victim, the tension on the tow rope
31 is released. This causes the rope 19 to return to its original
position, allowing the telescoping sleeve member 29 to expand, and
the outer ring circumference to return to its original shape. The
space 13 then returns to its original width, thereby releasing the
victim's arms. The victim may then be removed from the aperture 11
in the inner ring 10.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the rigid inner
ring 10 which is generally filled with lightweight plastic foam or
the like may also include compartments to house emergency equipment
such as tethering lines, flares, beacon lights and the like.
As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, many variations to
the present invention are possible, but all obvious variations are
contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *